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Quinta do Rabacal
Selfcatering, Beach or Riverside, Longterm, Offgrid - Vila do Mato (Tabua)
Quinta do Rabacal - Click on photo for more photographs from Quinta do Rabacal.
Looking for a quiet and peaceful place to stay?
The 14 acres of Quinta do Rabaçal is situated in the natural reserve of the Mondego valley. Here you can walk undisturbed without meeting anyone, except perhaps the shepherd with his flock or someone on horseback. A place where foxes, badgers, otters, red squirrels and wild boar are common and birds such as eagles, kites, hoopoes and kingfishers are frequent visitors. Songbirds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians also abound.
The quinta includes three beautiful, granite, self-catering cottages and a wooden chalet for rent. As a guest you can enjoy the pleasures of the riverside like swimming, (there are sandy riverbanks and private places were you can sunbathe and swim in peace) walking, fishing, free kayaking, swimming pool, and children’s playground.
And if you want to discover more about the unspoilt Beiras region of Portugal the quinta is well situated close to many attractions like the majestic Serra da Estrela mountains, the Bussaco forest with its ancient trees, Luso´s hot springs, the amazing beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, the historic city of Coïmbra and the lively markets in the local villages were time seems to have stood still.
About Us and Quinta do Rabaçal
According to the older people in the nearby village of Vila do Mato, Quinta do Rabaçal (the valley of the parsnips) was once a lively and prosperous place where the people sang on the fields as they worked the fertile land.
However, harder times hit the area and eventually the farm was abandoned and remained deserted until we arrived in 2002.
We are a dutch familie: Rein and Bien with our children Anne (1998) and Yannick (2000), together with our two dogs, two cats, chickens, ducks and a hamster called "grijsje".
We have restored the main granite farmhouse and used the original granite stones to rebuild the ox stable and oven house. The old oven is now working again and is used to make pizza & dishes.
Solar-power provides enough (220 Volt) energy for all the normal uses of us and our guests and there is a back-up generator for use when necessary. Water comes from a well situated above the accommodation, so no pumps are necessary as the houses are gravity fed. A borehole provides extra water during any summer shortages.
Heating in wintertime is provided by wood burning stoves, with almost all the fuel being harvested from the quinta.
Vegetables come from the organic garden and eggs are provided by our free range chickens and ducks. Potatoes are delivered by the local shepherd in exchange for grazing his sheep on the quinta's pasture.
Now a phone line and a partly paved, partly forest track is all that connects us with the rest of the world.
We wash dishes, clean the houses, and do the laundry only with organic products, which are available in the houses. We live in a protected area and our starting point is that our guests respect nature.
All the houses have their own kitchen.
Guest accommodation comprises:
Casa do Forno (sleeps 6): 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one with bath), living room with kitchen, big terrace outside with view over the river.
Casa da Figueira (sleeps 6): 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room with kitchen, big terrace outside with view over the river.
Casa Principal (sleeps 4): 2 bedrooms (one double, 1 twin), bathroom with bath & shower, large living room with kitchen.
Wooden Cabin (sleeps 2 + 2): 1 bedroom, living room with kitchen, a shower and toilet.
All the guest rooms have a river view (except the wooden house). The beds, as well as the floors and kitchens, are hand-made from reclaimed wood.
Guests can swim in the river - there are sandy riverbanks and private places were you can sunbathe and swim in peace. In august the river is lower, then you may prefer to use the swimming pool.
On the riverside is large meadow where children can run & play games, in summer there are usually other children to play with, and there is a small playground and of course the river to play in. The swimming pool has a separate part for children.
Besides swimming, canoeing, walking and fishing there are many things to do in the environment of the quinta:
horse riding (5km)
visit Midões, Sevilha, Fiais da Beira (5 km) or other historical villages in the neighborhood where time is going slowly
visit one of the many local markets where old women sell their own vegetables and fruit.
djembé workshops (2 km)
visit Coïmbra (65 km) the University, Portugal dos Pequenitos (a small village for children), the monastery of Santa Clara
go to the mountains: the Serra da Estrela
visit the Serra do Buçaco and the forest which threes are planted centuries ago by the monks who lived in the monastery.
visit the thermal bath of Luso,
visit a castle, Conimbriga or a little zoo (70 km)
play golf (35 km),
go to the ocean (100 km)
Dogs are welcome, but please book in advance.
Prices in euros:
Casa do Forno & Casa da Figueira: low season: 435 /May & June: 505 / July & August: 575
Casa Principal: low season: 325 / May & June: 395 / July & August: 430
Wooden Cabin: low season: 245 / May & June: 280 / July & August: 315
July & August bookings are from Saturday 14:00 - Saturday 10:00
Fresh bedlinen & towels (weekly), cleaning at end of stay, and gas, are included in the price.
Meals:
Evening meals available Fridays & Sundays
Extras:
4 x 1 person kayaks are available for guests to use for free.
Long term rentals:
This winter, Casa da Figueira or Casa do Forno are available from October 28th til April 28th.
750 euros per month, inc. solar electric, fire wood & gas for cooking/water heating.
Maximum of 4 persons, and only one house available for long term due to solar electric constraints.
Availability & Booking:
50% deposit at time of booking. Balance payable within 2 weeks of booking.
Check Availability Casa da Figueira
Check Availability Casa do Forno
Check Availability Casa Principal
Check Availability Casa de Madeira
Contact the owner of Quinta do Rabacal direct.
Can we help?
Pure Portugal can help with many aspects of your trip to Central Portugal. We can connect you to people who will pick you up from the airport, give tours of the area & informal taxi service, translators & other english speaking professionals.
Simply email to find out if we can help.
Our Pure Portugal Information website is also packed with useful information.
Pure Portugal advertises on behalf of hosts / owners, who supply their details, and are responsible for accuracy and booking arrangements.
Pure Portugal Ltd is a workers co-operative company, registered in England no: 5123198
Registered Office: 93 North Street, Burwell, Cambridge, CB5 0BB, United Kingdom.
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